elusive

1 of 2

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ˈlü-ziv

: tending to elude: such as

a

: tending to evade grasp or pursuit

elusive prey

b

: hard to comprehend or define

c

: hard to isolate or identify

elusively adverb

elusiveness noun

elusiveness

2 of 2

noun

elu·​sive·​ness

|ivnə̇s, 

|ēv- also |əv-

: the quality or state of being elusive

the author's elusiveness may at times be construed … as evasiveness

—J. W. Chase

brings vividly before us the elusiveness of the eternal objects of sense

—A. N. Whitehead

resented charges of rough tactics in his base running, maintaining that he developed elusiveness by his fall-away or fadeaway slide

—Current Biography

Synonyms of elusive

Adjective

• slippery
• transient
• evasive

Examples of elusive in a Sentence

Adjective

But for all their influence, D.C. lobbyists have failed to attain one elusive goal: public respect. —Franklin Foer, New Republic, 25 Mar. 2002

In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an elusive one. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times, 4 Apr. 1998

His meanings have been known to be elusive, which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers. —Sarah Vowell, GQ, November 1998

This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle. —Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993

The truth may prove elusive.

the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As gains became ever more elusive, states got more aggressive trying to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026

The fourth, and maybe the most elusive, concerns self-conception. — Max Moser, STAT, 9 July 2026

Even after decades of collecting, Lanigan is still searching for one elusive grail. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

For scientists, the milestone promises the enticing potential of unlocking secrets of the universe that have long remained elusive. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin ēlūsus, past participle of ēlūdere "to trick, avoid, elude" + -ive

First Known Use

Adjective

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

elusive

adjective

elu·​sive ē-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

1

: hard to find or capture : evasive

elusive prey

2

: hard to understand or define

an elusive idea

elusively adverb

elusiveness noun